Tag: Barchester Healthcare

Strachan House launches initiative to help combat loneliness at Christmas

DON’T DINE ALONE ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Local care home Strachan House in Blackhall is opening its doors to members of the community in a bid to help tackle loneliness this Christmas.

Older community members, who might usually eat alone, are invited to join staff and residents at the home on Christmas Day from 12.30 pm onwards for a free three course meal and a good old natter.

Diners will be treated to a tasty Christmas lunch in the home’s dining room. Guests will have a chance to mingle and get into the festive spirit with music and tales of Christmas’s gone by as well as taking part in the festive cheer throughout the day.

The ‘Don’t Dine Alone’ initiative was launched by Barchester Healthcare as a way to reach out to isolated or vulnerable members of the local community.

The company has its own Charitable Foundation, a registered charity that gives grants to older people and other adults with a disability or mental health problem to help combat loneliness and enable people to connect with their local communities. 

The home’s talented Head Chef Paul Dow will be creating an array of delicious dishes all cooked from scratch using fresh produce for diners to enjoy. 

Fran Fisher, General Manager at Strachan House said: “Loneliness and isolation can have a huge impact on people, especially older members of the community. 

“We want all our neighbours to know that they are welcome to come and dine with us here at Strachan House,, we very much hope that anyone feeling lonely will join us for a hot meal on Christmas day”.

Strachan House care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care from respite breaks to long term stays.

Local care home residents enjoy canal cruise

Residents from Strachan House care home in Blackhall, Edinburgh, were delighted to visit Ratho Canal for an afternoon with The Seagull Trust Cruises.

Residents were able to engage in some nature spotting and enjoy a brief history of the canal, including its bridges and famous aqueduct.  Residents were able to spend the day cruising along the canal, and enjoyed an incredible afternoon tea provided by the home’s hospitality team.

Fran Fisher, General Manager of Strachan House, said: “Our residents have enjoyed their day out on the water.

“Trips out in the homes’ mini bus are a regular event for the residents, and we always ask for ideas on where they would best like to go. The day was so much fun. Residents were delighted to see such a diverse range of wildlife. ”

Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential, nursing and dementia care for short and long-term stays.

Local Care Home to host free Fall Prevention Talk

STRACHAN HOUSE CARE HOME – SATURDAY 26 APRIL 11am

Barchester’s Strachan House Care Home in Blackhall is hosting a free Falls Prevention Talk on Saturday 26th April from 11.00 am and is inviting members of the community to attend.  

Staff and physiotherapist, Kirsten Macleod BSc Hons who are specially trained in Falls Prevention from Strachan House will deliver the talk which will cover topics such as learning valuable tips and techniques to reduce the risk of falls and promote safety for yourself and your loved ones at home.

Our expert team will guide you through practical exercises and offer advice. There will be plenty of time for Q&A during and at the end of the session.  Please come along to Strachan House, 93 Craigcrook Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3PE on Saturday 26th April, if you would like to attend.

General Manager, Fran Fisher says: “We want to help and support relatives, friends and members of our local community to better understand fall prevention.

“We are inviting everyone to come along and listen to our talk to raise awareness and to help give people some information and coping strategies.  Please RSVP to StrachanHouse@Barchester.com if you would like to attend.”

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides dementia care, nursing care and respite care. 

For more information, please contact StrachanHouse@Barchester.com

Local Care Home to host free Fall Prevention talk

SATURDAY 26th APRIL from 11am at STRACHAN HOUSE CARE HOME

In order to support residents’ relatives and friends, and the local community, Barchester’s Strachan House Care Home in Edinburgh is hosting a free Falls Prevention Talk on Saturday 26th April from 11.00 am and is inviting members of the community to attend.  

Staff and physiotherapist, Kirsten Macleod BSc Hons who are specially trained in Falls Prevention from Strachan House will deliver the talk which will cover topics such as learning valuable tips and techniques to reduce the risk of falls and promote safety for yourself and your loved ones at home.

Our expert team will guide you through practical exercises and offer advice. There will be plenty of time for Q&A during and at the end of the session. 

Please come along to Strachan House, 93 Craigcrook Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3PE on Saturday 26th April, if you would like to attend.

General Manager, Fran Fisher says: “We want to help and support relatives, friends and members of our local community to better understand fall prevention.

“We are inviting everyone to come along and listen to our talk to raise awareness and to help give people some information and coping strategies.  Please RSVP to StrachanHouse@Barchester.com if you would like to attend.”

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides dementia care, nursing care and respite care. 

For more information, please contact StrachanHouse@Barchester.com

Care Home ‘proud’ to be pit stop for Emergency Services

Barchester’s Strachan House care home in Edinburgh is proud to provide a much-needed pit stop for all local emergency services. 

At any time of the day or night, hard-working emergency workers can call into the care home to get a hot or cold drink and a tasty bite to eat either to have at the home or to take away with them if time is tight. 

Everyone at Strachan House is delighted to be able to offer this service to our wonderful emergency crews to thank them for all that they do.

When crews come to Strachan House, they are always so glad of a drink and a rest if there is time so staff and residents decided to extend this offer to all emergency teams in the area and they want to spread the word that all blue light staff are always welcome to stop in for a rest and some refreshment. 

The home has prepared snack bags to keep on hand should a crew have no time to rest and just need to grab a bag and go. 

Frances Fisher, General Manager for Strachan House, said: “We all know how hard our emergency services work and how much we rely on them. 

“We wanted to say thank you for all that they do to protect and support us and this is our way of giving back.  We want our local emergency services to know they are always welcome here at Strachan House”.

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care and specialist dementia care.
For more information, please contact StrachanHousee@Barchester.com

Care Home celebrates ‘Superstar’ team member

 Staff and residents at Woodhorn Park and Station Court care home in Ashington are celebrating because their wonderful colleague, Natalie Lochhead, has been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.  

Natalie was selected earlier this year to take part in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS). She is among an elite group of just 21 extraordinary community nurses to have been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse this year.

Queen’s Nursing in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century, when nurses completed specific training which allowed them to work as district nurses to provide nursing care for the ‘sick poor’ of Scotland’s communities.

QNIS organised the training of District Nurses in Scotland until the late 1960s. Nurses who qualified from the Institute were known as Queen’s Nurses, they provided healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes and became well respected figures within their community.

Around 20 community nurses and midwives are chosen each year to embark on the Queen’s Nurse Development Programme (QNDP) after which they are awarded the title of Queen’s Nurses. There are now over 170 contemporary Queen’s Nurses working across Scotland.

Natalie Lochhead, Divisional Clinical Lead Nurse for Barchester Healthcare, said: “I have the best job in the world, I work with such brilliant people across our homes and I love each and every one of my residents – it is the best feeling in the world to know you have made someone feel better and put a smile on their face. 

“I was very happy to be selected for the programme and it is lovely to be recognised for doing the job that I love.”

General Manager of Woodhorn Park care home, Emma Saunders said: “This is such a fantastic achievement, the whole home is so proud of Natalie. 

“She is so dedicated, she is a wonderful mentor and support for her colleagues and always goes the extra mile for her residents.  She really deserves this accolade and we are delighted to celebrate her success!”

Dr Sarah Doyle, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, said: “Queen’s Nursing in Scotland is delighted to award the Queen’s Nurse title to Natalie.

“Community nurses and midwives occupy a unique position in Scotland’s health service, working as they do in the heart of communities, championing the cause of those who are not heard, helping those facing real adversity. They do extraordinary work, every day.

“The Queen’s Nurse Development Programme supports participants to build their confidence, inspiring them to find and lead creative responses to the challenges faced by their colleagues and the communities they serve.” 

Residents at local care home enjoy firefighters visit

Residents and guests at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh enjoyed a visit from the wonderful local Fire Service.

Residents enjoyed a talk with the local firefighters and a look round the engine. Modern fire brigades around the world were created after Edinburgh led the way 200 years ago.  City authorities set up the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment in 1824, following a several fires – the largest of which raged for five days, killing 13 people and making hundreds homeless.

General Manager, Francis Fisher said, “Our residents had a wonderful day. We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment as part of the lifestyle enrichment programme for residents, and this was one of our favourites!”

One resident said “We all enjoyed a chat with the firemen and a look around the engine, it was very interesting.”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House Care Home provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for residents from respite care to long term stays.

Care home residents enjoy third annual Fringe Cares Festival

Care Home Residents Enjoy The 3rd Annual Fringe Cares Festival

2024 Fringe Cares Festival – conceived by The Edinburgh Interfaith Association back in 2023 – started once again with a very successful event at Queen’s Manor Care Home on Queensferry Road.  

Performers from all over the world take part in the Fringe Cares Festival which brings a taste of the musical & theatrical talents of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to all residents of 7 care homes in the city, in a partnership sponsored by Barchester Healthcare, The Edinburgh Interfaith Association, Scottish Care and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

Queens Manor Care Home, the founding care home Residents, relatives, friends and staff – along with several guests from the local community, were able to participate in a full afternoon of entertainment.

Lord Provost Councillor Robert Aldridge attended and said, “This is my favourite part of the Fringe!”

The event included a piper on arrival, drinks canapes and cocktails.  Street performer Andie Mars with her impressive hula hoops displays, forget me Nots Children’s’ Parties provided face painting and visiting Princess Ariel.   Matthew Shiel, award winning classical pianist played in the foyer. 

The main act – “Ella, Etta and Eartha”, singer Melissa Western and her accompanists rounded off the show in a performance inspired by those legendary female singers. 

Professor Joe Goldblatt, who inspired and instigated the Fringe Cares Festival explained: “The first year my wife and I sponsored one performer and I was amazed when residents who had not spoken for months suddenly burst forth into song, in French, when a Fringe performer began to sing the Edith Piaf classic ‘La vie en rose’.  

“As they sang along, I was speechless and in awe of the power of musical memories to inspire their strong positive emotions and awaken their senses. The events of this year so far at Queens Manor were no less than spectacular – offering the same level of amazement that we had in our founding year!” 

Margaret-Ann Davidson, General Manager of Queens Manor in Edinburgh, said: “I am delighted the Queens Manor Team is able to support our residents to participate in such an exciting initiative, which has grown each year; and we are proud to be part of   Barchester Healthcare, the founding sponsor for this special programme. 

“Music, entertainment, time with loved ones and friends are key elements of life enrichment for all care home residents.    In years gone by the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe would have been part of the lives of many of those in our care.  

“Through the Fringe Cares Festival, we are able to bring a flavour of the excitement, fun, and delights of the Festival Fringe to our residents at home. The long-term aim of this project is to help ensure that all care home residents in Edinburgh have access to the Fringe Cares Festival in the next 10 years – regardless of care provider.   

“There are many other entertainers participating at the other 6 care homes.  We look forward to the feedback and photographs”.  

The executive director of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, Iain Stewart said: “EIFA is very proud to have conceived this programme as part of our commitment to bringing people together to celebrate, communicate, and appreciate one another through music. 

“The 36-year-old EIFA is the oldest interfaith association and represents all faiths and none promoting respect, understanding, peace and love.

The Fringe Cares Festival at Barchester dramatically demonstrates that we may all come together and benefit through music”.   

We are already looking at inspiration and planning for this event in 2025 – if you would like to be involved or become a sponsor, please reach out to either Joe Goldblatt at joe@joegoldblatt.scot or margaretann-davidson@barchester.com.

Care Home welcomes local police for community Blue Light event

COFFEE WITH A COPPER!

Colleagues and residents at the Strachan House Care Home in Blackhall warmly welcomed PC Colin Cursiter and PC Holly Matheson to speak to our residents and guests.

PC Colin Cursiter and PC Holly Matheson spoke to the audience about their time on the force, challenges they face and the rewards from helping the local community, before taking questions from the residents, relatives and guests.

Fran Fisher, the General Manager of Strachan House extended the invitation throughout the local area, “to say thank you to PC Colin Cursiter and PC Holly Matheson for their visit and to all of the great work our emergency services do for us, we here at Strachan House are inviting all members of the police, ambulance and fire services to pop in and take their duty break on us for free.

“We are pleased to offer all of our Strachan House Care Home who stop in tea, coffee, juice, chilled water, delicious homemade cake and biscuits and a healthy selection of fruit, available free of charge; do stop in and say hi, we would be delighted to see you!”

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. 

Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.